"The old man, hearing my footsteps, mumbled: 'Why this long delay, my son?
Quickly give me some water to drink. Your mother too is athirst. Were you making your
pleasure in the stream? Was this the cause of your delay, son? Why are You silent? Even if
your mother or I have offended you in any manner, you should not take it to heart. You are
a perfect son and our only prop. We have lost our eye-sight and you serve as our eyes.
Indeed you are more than our life to us. Why are you still silent? Are you still angry.
"I trembled in fear when I heard the
toothless old man talking thus. Gathering courage I began: 'O, holy one, I am Dasaratha by
name, a Kshatriya, bound to obey and serve you, though not your son. Driven by my former
karma, I have committed a terrible sin and stand in abject humility before you. I went to
the river bank for sport, hoping to shoot wild beasts. |
